This page is devoted to expatriate Congolese bands working in East Africa in the 70s and 80s. My aim here is to plot a family tree, adding band names, including names of band members, dates, and recordings of these bands. The information on this page is copyright, but may be reprinted with proper acknowledgment (see bottom of page for Creative Commons Licensing Agreement). Major contributions have been made by Peter Toll, Douglas Paterson, Tim Clifford, Zim Bida, Flemming Harrev, Alan Wheeler, Paul Johnston, Siama Matuzungidi, and others listed below. I have followed spelling of band members' names from quoted sources, record sleeves etc, and not standardized them. (Therefore you will find Tabu Frantal also referred to as Tabu Ogollah, Tabu Saidi, even Batchalinge, or Tabu Atchatchambala!)

Baba Gaston

BABA GASTON

Baba Gaston was born on July 5, 1936 at Likasi, near Lubumbashi in Shaba Province, Eastern DR Congo. He changed his name to Ilunga Chenji Kamanda wa Kamanda Gaston Omer after Mobutu decreed that Zaire nationals replace their Christian names with African ones.

He picked up his early musical training from a Greek pianist, Leonides Rapitis, and had a hit with "Barua kwa Mpenzi Gaston" while he was still in school. When he was 20 he formed the Baba National Orchestre, which he took on an extended tour through Zambia, Zimbabwe and several European countries before becoming one of the first Congolese musicians to settle in East Africa in the early 70s.

Evani Kabila Kabanze, who was later to star with Les Mangelepa, sang with Orchestra Baba Nationale in Lubumbashi. The band used to travel to Kinshasa to record. According to Kabanze, sometime in 1971, because of the poor roads in the Congo, they took the Kisangani route through Kilemi which lies on the Congolese border with Tanzania. But, instead of proceeding to Kinshasa, they decided to enter East Africa, having heard of the region's superb studios.

The band settled in Dar-es-Salaam for four years. They found it cheaper there and built a strong fan base. For recording they would cross the border and travel to Nairobi. But, four years later, in 1975, Baba Gaston decided to move the band to Nairobi when they realised they had an even bigger following there.

Congolese musicians have been making waves in Kenya since the late 1950s. It was the Congolese OS Africa Band that opened Nairobi's famous Starlight Club back in 1964. But it wasn't until the mid-1970s, after the passing of the American soul craze, that music from Zaire began to dominate the city nightclubs. As a composer and band leader, Baba Gaston was prominent in the music scene in Kenya for three decades, and is considered one of the godfathers of Kenyan pop.

He sang mostly in Swahili. His tunes were hugely popular and remain evergreen. "Kakolele Viva Christmas" (lead vocals by Kasongo Wakanema who later joined Super Mazembe) earned him a golden award, selling over 60,000 for Polygram. Other memorable hits were "Ilunga Ilunga," "Kai Kai," and "Mayasa." He rarely dabbled in politics, but a praise song for Mobutu in 1983 earned him a gold disc from the president.

Baba Gaston once proudly claimed he had played with more than 700 musicians and that his band was a virtual training school. There was another side to the statistic, however, as Hanz Kinzl, manager of Phonogram, the second biggest label in Kenya, has said, "Baba is an extraordinary person. He has this fatherly image on him, and I think it's quite genuine. In Africa you're wealthy if you have a big stomach. If you can show that you're a big man then you are also regarded as a rich man and an important personality. Which means that he takes the majority of whatever income his music provides him with, to the dissatisfaction of the band members. Consequently there is hardly any band in Nairobi and Kenya which has broken up as often as Baba's".

Mounting dissatisfaction for two years came to a head in July 1976 when several members including Bwami Walumona, Kasongo Wakanema, Evani Kabila Kabanze (vocalist/composer), Kalenga Nzaazi Vivi (vocalist/composer), Lutulu Kaniki Macky, and Twikale wa Twikale split from Baba Nationale to form Orchestra Les Mangelepa. Other splits led breakaway members to Bwambe Bwambe, Pepelepe, and Viva Makale.

A female vocalist who sang with Gaston was Nana Akumu wa Kudu. She is also remembered for her singing with Pepelepe in Nairobi before joining Franco and OK Jazz in the hit song "Mamou." She still performs in Brussels, backed by her husband Djo Mali and ex-Les Noirs guitarist Dieudos.

Other alumni, who have now died, include John Ngereza (who later led Les Wanyika until his death in February 2000), Shoushou (Tchou Tchou), Lutulu Kaniki Macky (a vocalist/composer), Bosho Kayembe Nyonga (who led Festival Libaku in Nairobi before his death), Tabu Nkotela Kiombwe (who died in Mombasa, Kenya, while in police custody on a theft charge).

Baba Gaston died on March 25, 1997, while living across the border in Tanzania, where he had moved since his retirement from the music scene in 1989. He is buried at the Lang'ata cemetery in Nairobi. A prolific musician and apparently also a prolific father.

Disclaimer: I claim no credit for any of this writing. It is a collation from the sources mentioned above. If material from other sources has crept in it is unintentional. Please let me know so that I can give credit where it is due. (PMJ/20 Nov 2006). Edited by Peter Toll, 22 March 07.

BOMA LIWANZA

Peter Toll reports:

Jim Monimambo must have come to Kenya in the mid 1970s (note: See his info in the liner notes to Special Liwanza below). He might have arrived there in 1975 with Kalombo Mwanza's Orch. Bassanga, a band that also included Tabu Batchalinge Ogolla and guitarist Loboko Pasi who joined Orch. Boma Liwanza soon after getting to Nairobi. Apparently Orch. Bassanga fell apart in Tanzania because this is what Loboko Pasi said in an article in The Nation (June 17, 2006):

"I had heard about Franco's tours to Kenya and how he would attract crowds in Nairobi and Kisumu. I was very excited about the tour. I had also heard that Nairobi was the London of East Africa, the land of milk and honey. If I couldn't get to London, I told myself, Nairobi would do," adds Pasi.
The tour was to take Orchestra Bassanga through Uganda and Tanzania followed by a grand performance in Nairobi before returning home. So after a rather lukewarm reception in Uganda and a low-key performance in Tanzania, the band, led by Kalombo Mwanza, set out for Nairobi. However, somewhere along the way, internal rifts developed over money after the tour's sponsor took off with the little cash that had been realised.
"That was a trying time for me. I was among the band's youngest members, it was my first foreign tour and there we were, splitting. I wondered how I would find my way back home with no money," recalls Pasi.
When they got to Nairobi, the band split up and it was every man for himself. With no tools of trade, no person to turn to, Pasi wandered in the streets of Nairobi, hoping to meet a Congolese who he would share his problems with.
"I did not even have a guitar to perform on the streets to raise money for food".
For almost a month, Pasi had to beg to survive. The paradise in Nairobi was elusive.
"It was not London to me any more. There was no milk, no honey, not even bread crumbs. I was starving, I needed something to do to get food," recalls Pasi.
After knowing his way around town, Pasi joined a Congolese band by the name Boma Liwanza.
"I just introduced myself and they allowed me to perform with them although they doubted my abilities. I proved myself and they accepted me officially," he says.

Despite this newspaper report, Loboko Pasi says he was not stranded in Nairobi but joined Les Noirs in Mombasa in 1975. He was later invited to Nairobi to play with Boma Liwanza, until he left to join Super Mazembe.

In the mid 1970s Monimambo became a singer with Boma Liwanza and a popular one. In 1976 he even started to record with his own band Special Liwanza -- which was probably just a studio band made up of members of Boma Liwanza. It seems Jim was still with Boma Liwanza in 1979 when he wrote one of their big hits, "Milimani".

However, around the same time he also started performing with George Kalombo Mwanza's new band Viva Makale and that's where he sang with a Zairean artist who had just returned from Tanzania, Moreno Batambo. Soon after, the two started a new band, Shika Shika, but unfortunately, Moreno wanted to be his own boss, so he moved within a year to form Moja One. I believe Orch. Shika Shika was formed in 1980, the year Moreno's "Maisha Ya Mjini" was recorded.

Jimmy Moni Mambo

MONIMAMBO, LOVY & MORENO:ORCHESTRA SHIKA SHIKA

Shika Shika released an album on the Hit Parade label in 1982 and two more in 1983, and produced a slew of singles on different labels. "Tika na lela (Leave me to weep)" by Lovy is one of their greatest songs: it became their catch-phrase. They quote the lyrics often, and reprise it musically in both "Massa" and "Ma-Sofia." Among those who leave and weep in this latter version are Samba Mapangala. Their other hits included "Sisili," "Amba," & "Inyo" (according to Phil Bunce in Issue 3 of SONGA! magazine which included a cassette of "Amba").

Monimambo was also known as Jimmy Monimambo Mfumu Ntoto, the honorific means "King of the Earth" in the Ki-Kongo language (Maquis du Zaire did a song called "Mtukwao" with the lyric "Monimambo ooooh!"). He has most songwriting credits. Monimambo is a surname in Angola; it is also the name of a pan-Kongo trickster spirit! Jimmy was born in Barumbu, Kinshasa of Angolan parents. Many Angolans migrated to the Congo basin in search of work. Sam Mangwana and Ricardo Lemvo also have Angolan roots. In addition to Shika Shika, Monimambo (who started out with orchestras Los Angel and Cercul Jazz, among others) wrote and performed with Boma Liwanza, Special Liwanza, and Viva Makale of Kalombo Mwanza George. Other bandmates in Shika Shika included Bwami Walumona & Kasongo Kanema formerly of Baba Nationale, and later of Les Mangelepa, Lawi Somona, plus Sammy Mansita (later of Virunga, who also fronted Orch Mokano), guitarist Mwalimu Siama Matuzungidi, and drummer Lava Machine, who were together in Virunga. Monimambo and Longomba also recorded with studio bands Orchestra Mos Mos and Orchestra Pole Pole. Guitarist Chery Matumona (like Siama Matuzungidi, a member of Orchestre Cavacha in 1976) left in 1981 to go to Uganda & Zambia; he now lives in Canada.

Siama Matuzungidi was guitarist with the Cavacha band in Kinshasa in the 70's (The Cavacha was a dance later popularized by Zaiko Langa Langa). Cavacha was formed by Dona Mobeti (tenor voice) and Mopero (baritone). It also featured Mambo Ley and Nanga Nella. Melodica in Nairobi sold their 45s on the Editions Diabim and ASL labels, including "O Mimita" which was written by guitarist Chery Matumona, "Bakota Bakota" by Dona Mobeti and "Nene Malakasi" by Nanga Nella. Their 1976 hit "Luciana" can be found on the Ngoyarto CD Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Shama Shama de Mopero. Siama's first composition for them was called "Bomoto mabasi." As Siama says, "Mopero split and formed Orchestre Cavacha de Mopero which led to a conflict. Finally Franco intervened and told Mopero to get a new name. Vicky Shama Shama was Mopero's girlfriend so he chose that as the name of the band (and it was also a hit song title by Cavacha de Mopero). Shama Shama was formed from Cavacha members as Mopero Wa Maloba was the Cavacha singer." Siama recalls: "Now I can see all the sin we lived with at that time, it was fun! Mopero died in West Africa in 2008, very sad. Shama Shama band got divided just before the Uganda trip; Mopero got new musicians and went to Uganda and then the band broke up again -- that's why KoKo Zigo convinced me to fly to Uganda and form Kombe Kombe in 1978 with Koko Zigo as the singer. We moved to Kenya as Kombe Kombe and we were given a contract at Garden Square in Nairobi to form a new band by the name Viva Makale, but Koko Zigo kept the name Kombe Kombe for our private recordings."
Siama recalls: "At the beginning of Viva Makale the band was:

Almost the same musicians used to record in Moja One of Moreno Batamba: it depended who Moreno wanted to use because in the old days Moja One and Shika Shika were not performing just studio recording."

Moreno

Jojo Ikomo in Nairobi

Moreno (Batamba Wenda Morris), of the deep bass voice, was born in Kisangani, Haut-Zaire province, Congo, in 1955. He quit school in 1971 to join Orchestre Maquis Sasa Bata. He moved to Uganda & in 1974 joined Orchestra Bana Ngenge of singer Jojo Ikomo. Ethan Bloomberg writes: "During a discussion of Orchestre Veve with Samba Mapangala, Bana Ngenge came up. He told me a story of Veve in Uganda (they were wildly popular), and a club owner who later went to Kinshasa and poached some Veve musicians, to perform in Kampala. Bana Ngenge was the group that emerged from this undertaking." Bana Moja or Bana Ngenge (the name depended on who was in charge) moved to Nairobi in the mid-70s and featured, in addition to Jojo Ikomo, Fataki Lokassa, Nsilu Wabansilu Manitcho (ex-Veve bass-player), Lawison Somana (sax), Ochudis, Mandala Otis Muissa, Nzengele Saida (guitar), Beya Maduma (a.k.a. Moro Maurice, sax player from orch Veve, later a solo artist in Abidjan), & guitar soloist Roxy Tshimpaka (later of Choc Stars, then Zaiko Langa Langa).

Peter Toll adds: the formation which arrived in Kampala in 1974 was fronted by singers Djodjo Ikomo and Fataki Lokassa, both former members of Orch. Tabou National, a band that was founded by Tony Dee Bokito in 1970. After Tony Dee moved to Mbandaka in 1972, several musicians left the band and Ikomo started working with Orch. Veve with whom he recorded his 1973 song "Maina" (Veve 159). Ikomo was also one of the founders of Orch. Bana Modja with whom he released his compostion "Mayatu" (1974).
Other members of Bana Moja were bass player Manitcho and guitarist Roxy Tshimpaka (ex-Thu Zaina). During their stay in Uganda the group produced a few records that were later released as 45 RPMs on the African label:
African 90853 - Mayatu Pt 1 & 2 (Ed. Bana Moja, later redone for the LP "Maya Tu", KR 1007).
African 90984 - Azonga / Koyoka koyoka (Ed. Bana-Moja 02)
African 90985 - Okei kolakate nika / Na bangi makambo (Ed. Bana-Moja 03)
African 90986 - Mabaku Pt 1 & 2 (Ed. Bana-Moja 04)

In 1975, Bana Moja moved to Nairobi, where a number of musicians regrouped under the name Bana Ngenge. Unfortunately, the band split the following year, with Ikomo and Moreno leaving to join Les Noirs. Meanwhile, Fataki "Los Los" Lokassa ("Masumbuko ya Dunia") travelled with a remnant of Bana Ngenge to Tanzania where the band finally collapsed.

The music Bana Ngenge recorded was released in Kenya on a label called Bana Moja. So, although Bana Moja didn't exist as a band from 1975 on (that is, until Ikomo's return to Zaire in the early 1980s), the name still continued as a record label. Apparently, in the old days quite a number of musicians were selling and licensing recordings and running their own label. For example see the many 45 RPMs on Editions Ntimbo by Orch. Sentima, Top Forum & Festival du Zaire. And also Coco Zigo had his own label, Editions Zigo, that released Orch. Bangambo, Shama Shama & Bansomi Lay Lay.

In 1976 when Bana Ngenge broke up, Moreno & Jojo (or Djo Djo) joined Les Noirs and scored a hit with "Tshiku" (on AFRICAN STARS COLLECTION Vol 3). Jojo also recorded with Orch. Bassanga on the ASL label. Other members of Les Noirs included Mukaputu Kalemby Kajos, William Tambwe Lokassa (bass), Mankwazi Duki Dieudos & Chuza Kabaselleh. Dieudos left Kenya and returned to Zaire in the early 80s where he played with Tiers Monde, later he moved to Belgium and hooked up with Dalienst. Kuka & Les Noirs scored a hit with "Mungu iko Helena," and Chuza and les Noirs hit with "Sikiya sauce," (composed by Dieudos Makwanzi) both on ANCIENT SUCCES (ASLP 426), dated 1973. (Jojo was later in Empire Bakuba.) Kuka was Mathieu Kuka composer of the classic "BB69" a hit for African Jazz in the 1960s. He was in Kenya with Les Noirs in the 70s but returned to Kinshasa where today he leads Afric'Ambiance.

After the split up of Bana Ngenge in 1976, Fataki Lokassa moved to Tanzania and carried on with other members of the group for a short while. In 1978 Fataki returned to Nairobi where he joined Les Kinois (later Virunga). He died on Dec 11, 2006 in Dar-Es-Salaam. Peter Toll adds: "As for Ikomo, he left Kenya in 1980 and moved back to Zaire. With a new Orch. Bana Modja he made some recordings for the Kinerama label (LP Maya Tu, KR 1007 (1982)) but by the mid 1980s, he had joined Franco's OK Jazz. He later ended up in Empire Bakuba."

"As for the name change Bana Moja / Bana Ngenge -- I think this really had to do with the person in charge. With Fataki the band was called Bana Ngenge, with Ikomo it was Bana Moja."

From 1978-80 Moreno was based in Dar-es-Salaam where he sang with Safari Sound before returning to Kenya. Back in Nairobi in 1980 he started Moja One where he teamed with tenor Coco Zigo Mike, guitarist Siama Matuzungidi and drummer Lava Machine (with other musicians from Shika Shika). Their biggest hits were "Pili Mswahili," "Dunia ni duara," (in 1981), & "Urembo si hoja." For some time in 1983, Moreno briefly joined Samba Mapangala's Orchestra Virunga in what was perhaps the group's most star-studded line-up ever. The group which turned the now defunct Starlight Club into the hottest live-music nightspot in town, featured Coco Zigo, Fataki Lokassa, Dago Mayombe and later Moreno on vocals, along with Ottis and Samba Mapangala; Manitcho Nsilu, Sammy Mansita, Django Nkulu Mwilambwe, Bejos, Siama Matuzungidi and Beya Mikobi Dibuba on guitars, and others, some of whom were only briefly in the band. Siama recalls Lava Machine replaced Willy on drums and the trumpeter was Diana Kodila. The outfit later split three ways to create Vundumuna, Ibeba System and Virunga. Diana Kodila the trumpeter released "Mama Koko" as Orch Super Diana Star. But Moreno went solo. He mainly sang in Kiswahili and the themes of his songs varied from social commentaries like "Dunia ni Duara," "Mapenzi ya Shinda" and "Mwanamke Hatosheki," to love songs like "Angela" and "Pili Mswahili." This last was a song about his girlfriend, Pili Mikendo Kassim, a Tanzanian model he met in 1976 while with Orchestra Les Noirs in Mombasa. His 1993 chart topper was "Vidonge Sitaki," based on a Taraab song by Golden Star, but sadly he died the same year, aged only 38.

High-voiced Lovy Mokolo Longomba came in the middle of a distinguished family. He was a brother of Awilo and son of Vicky Longomba, founding member of OK Jazz who created Lovy du Zaire in 1971. His twin sons Christian and Lovy are hip-hop stars in Kenya today. Lovy started his career at 18 with Orchestre Macchi. In 1976 he and Dindo Yogo with guitarist Nseka Huit Kilos left Macchi and formed Etumba na Ngwaka with singers Lofanga, Gaby Yau-Yau and Mukolo, lead vocals (who later died in Kenya). Huit Kilos, of course, went on to star with l'Afrisa International of Rochereau and now backs Ricardo Lemvo in Makina Loca, based in Los Angeles. In August 1978 Lovy left Kinshasa and moved to Nairobi where he joined Les Kinois, but three months later he quit that group for Boma Liwanza (Dindo Yogo meanwhile joined Viva la Musica, then Langa Langa Stars in 1981, and Tout Choc Anti Choc in 1983). After only 6 months with Boma Liwanza, Lovy was off again, to join Super Mazembe of Mutonkole Longwa Didos, and got the nickname "Ya Mama" because he would sing the high women's part in story songs. Band-mates included Joseph Okello Songa, Musa Olokwiso Mandala & Fataki Lokassa from Les Noirs. His hits included "Lovy," "Yo mabe," "Ndeko," "Nanga," "Mokano" and "Elena." Lovy left in 1981 & sang with Shika Shika for two years. He joined Mos Mos of Moises Fonta (with Monimambo and other members of his circle) before forming his own group Super Lovy (in May 1981) on the AIT label and, to avoid a contractual conflict, used the name Bana Likasi when he recorded for Audio Productions Ltd (Their "Mado Zaina part 1" can be found on THE NAIROBI BEAT (Rounder)). He recorded several solo albums produced by Felix Jakomo. In "Lomama," Lovy namechecks Massamba, Felix, Dialukila and Monimambo, so we can assume they remained friends. He even quotes "Tika na lela"! He was a founder of Ibeba System, along with Dhago Mayombe, but never recorded with them. In 1988 Lovy went to Dar es Salaam and performed with Orch. Afriso Ngoma. Lovy Longomba died in a car crash in Tanzania in 1996.

Tabu Frantal, Lifenya Lorri and Mandefu wa Mandefu were also band members of Shika Shika. The latter wrote five of their hits, including "Bibi moke," which were issued on the Jaca label. Tabu Frantal released "Helena" on the Hudson label with Orchestre Malekesa du Zaire. Nsilu wa Bansilu Manitcho (who was in Japan, but is now back in Kenya, doing Gospel music) of Bana Ngenge was also in the band, occasionally playing bass: he's name-checked in the song "Tina." Siama Matuzungidi was the rhythm guitarist. Born in the Congo in 1953, he grew up at a Jesuit school where he had unlimited access to the music room. Inspired by Bavon Marie Marie, he started playing guitar with Orchestre Cavacha in 1971. In 1975 he was with Orchestre Bibicha until 1978 when he quit Kinshasa for Kampala, Uganda, where he joined Kombe Kombe. He recalls: "Coco Zigo took me to Uganda and we formed Kombe Kombe band; this was in 1978. The same year Lovy Longomba joined us in Kombe Kombe; and Kanda Bongo Man came with Bella Mambo band. We played in the same club Monday to Friday. We kind of mixed the two bands together and lived in the same house -- all of us together for maybe a year. We moved to Kenya in 1979 with Coco Zigo, while others went back to Zaire. In Kenya the first band was called Viva Makale: we played at the Garden Square which was ruled by Buami Walumona and George Kalombo and then from there musical life in Nairobi began." Siama, who was given the name "Mualimu" or Teacher because of his skill on the guitar, also played with Orchestra Shika Shika until 1980 when he was a founding member of Moja One. He remembers: " I composed "Sisili" and "Rebeca" with Shika Shika band. With Moja One I contributed ideas, composed, and played rhythm guitar parts." He was also in Virunga then Ibeba System for five years (1981-85), including a three-year stint in Tokyo. After playing with Losaka in 1994 and Shangoya (1995-2004) Siama started Marimba Africa in Minneapolis, where he now lives.

Coco "Jeriko" Zigo Mike joined Shama Shama de Mopero before moving to Kenya as part of Viva Makale, Kombe Kombe, then Virunga (of Samba Mapangala), before leading his own Losako Musica in Nairobi. He also sang with Viva Stars in Kenya (probably a Viva Makale regrouping) and later formed Losaka la Musica and Bangambo Zigidia. He died in a Nairobi hospital in August 1998.

In the song "Amba," Masala, Longomba, Mutanda & Moni Mambo are name-checked. "Daina Akinyi", "Zainabu" (one of their members) and "Olivia" were other Shika Shika singles.

Guitarist Tabu Frantal (from Kisingani, Zaire where he played with Orchestre Succès Le Peuple) formed Boma Liwanza in 1972, with former members of Orchestre Revolution. They toured East & Central Africa frequently and ended up in Nairobi, touring the Indian Ocean islands and Madagascar. In 1981 Boma Liwanza dissolved and Frantal starred with Shika Shika until their dissolution two years later. In 1984 he helped form Vundumuna (out of the break-up of Virunga), which featured his pal Nsilu Wabansilu Manysho whom he met in Kampala, and who had gone from Boma Liwanza to Shika Shika with him. Sammy Kasule was another member of Vundumuna, as was keyboardist Botango Bedjil, a.k.a. B.B. Mo-Franck. Vundumuna was the top band in Kenya for two years. In 1987, B.B. Mo-Franck took Vundumuna to Japan for a six month contract, making them the first purely African band to play live in Tokyo. Drummer Lava Machine died in December 2005 while still living in Japan. Tabu Frantal also collaborated with vocalist Lessa Lessan (ex-African Fiesta Sukisa), who went on to form Orchestre Popolipo. Frantal has started a new Orchestra Vundumuna in Nairobi in 2006.

Liner notes (courtesy of Alan Wheeler): At last PHONOGRAM (KENYA) Ltd has come out with Something Special -----something which has long been awaited. This Long Play by Orchestre Baba National should have been as ordinary as any other LP released in this country, but it is not. This LP is special for obvious reasons: the music is of high quality and in the tradition of Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga "Gaston" himself who is noted for his tremendous sense of perfection: This LP has been made more special in the sense that most of the tracks have never been released before. You will enjoy the super hits like Mbula ya basi, Mapenzi ya Peremende, Mama Bana & Magenlepa and many more.Besides the high quality of music -- not forgetting the best quality of recording -- there are other important factors which make this LP to be even more Special. It does also commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Orchestre Baba National and 40th Anniversary of Baba Ilunga himself. And it is also the first LP by Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga in East Africa....He was born 5th July 1936 at Likasi -- about 100 kilometers east of Lumbumbashi, the capital of Shaba Province in the Republic of Zaire. His main interest in music was prompted by the church choir.When he was nine years old, Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga was a member of the Roman Catholic Church Choir at Likasi and Lumbumbashi and he attributes his initial success in music to his first teacher -- Joseph Kiwele -- who composed so many religious songs in Shaba Province in the early fifties.Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga became a professional musician between 1951 and 1952 when he joined an all-white group -- the Orchestre de la Sabene -- in Lumbumbashi.It is while in this orchestra when he composed what was to become his famous hit -- Baba Gaston. Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga owes his success in the field of profession music to his late Greek teacher -- Leonidas Rapitis -- who was a noted composer and pianist in the Republic of Zaire.Rama Athumani, Taifa Weekly, Nairobi, 10th January, 1976.

Bana Moja (a.k.a. Bana Modja)

(Bana Modja were DjoDjo Ikomo's group whom he left behind in Kinshasa when he went to Uganda. In Kampala he teamed up with some Veve musicians and they moved to Nairobi in 1975 but soon disbanded. When DjoDjo returned to Zaire he regrouped with his old bandmates)
Note from Mbokamosika blog:
On the origins of Bana Modja: The group was formed by Thomas & Felly Ndjoku, the sons of N'Djoku Ey'Obaba, former governor of Kinshasa, and their cousins Jojo & Alexis Ikomo. Bana means offspring and they were literally from the same family. Thomas Ndjoku was also owner of the Bana Modja label and produced many bands such as Yoka Lokole, the breakout band from which Papa Wemba and many members of Zaiko and Viva La Musica emerged. They were called "Belgicains," because they studied abroad, when they returned they were shunned by their parents for taking to music so moved to N'Djili, Zaire on their return. Because of family pressure they did not tour and perform but rather concentrated on recording and issuing 45s. Felly went on to be the arranger for Lita Bembo. Thomas became a Christian minister and continues as a gospel artist. Jojo went on to work with Pepe Kallé and plays the occasional gig with old pals.

The Kin-based band, known as the Belgicains because they all studied in Belgium, formed in the early 80s included:
Boutié (tenor)
Dada Akoma (bass; later with Langa Langa Stars)
Gérard (harmony singer)
Thomas Ndjoku
Felly Ndjoku
Petit Mando (drums)
Elvis Kunku (2nd guitar; later with Empire Bakuba)

Bana Ngenge

"The new Bana Moja was formed out of members of Orch Veve, led by Jojo Ikomo and Fataki Lokassa, on tour in Uganda. The band disbanded in 1975 with several members moving to Kenya where they regrouped as Bana Ngenge but only lasted a year before splitting again. Bana Moja the label, seems to have been created to release Bana Ngenge records and its name outlasted the band." -Tim Clifford. The song "Bana ya Ngenge" tells the story of their formation.

Mostly taken from badly dubbed cassettes. Budget in every sense of the word, reprocessed sound with the classic Melodica "rinse" to remove the sonic brightness & render it as auditory mush. All of these tracks on the 2 CDs have been posted on YouTube where you can judge the sound quality.

Mange-Ngenge Orchestre

Bana Likasi

See also under Lovy
Likasi, Congo, was Baba Gaston's hometown, and presumably Lovy Longomba's as well. Bana Likasi the band was a side project of Lovy in 1985 when he wanted to avoid contractual obligations for his group Super Lovy. According to Julian Thorpe's website the Bana Likasi musicians were members of Super Mazembe: Katele Aley (vocals), Kalombo Mwanza George (sax), Miketo Rapok Kayembe (vocals), Atia Jo (bass), Lovy Longomba (vocals), Didos Mutonkole Longwa (singer), Kasongo Kanema/Madjo (vocals) and Roddy Mapako Lobe. They recorded on AIT's subsidiary which was Lovy's own Suplov label, and Editions Chris Tetemeko. We can add Kalala Mbwebwe, who wrote "Imbe," to the line-up.

Bana Nzadi

See under Moreno

Orch Bassanga

Orch. Bassanga, led by saxophonist and vocalist, George Kalombo Mwanza, also featured Jojo Ikomo, guitarist Loboko Pasi (later of Boma Liwanza and Super Mazembe), Batchalinge Tabu Ogollah (of Boma Liwanza, Special Liwanza, Shika Shika, Les Jaca, before he moved to Japan), William Tambwe Lokassa (bass) and the Ethiopian Tamrat Tommy. They split up on arrival in Tanzania in 1975. Drummer was Kavabuha Augustin, alias Augiga, from Burundi who began singing in a church choir at age 9. He studied music before joining Nairobi Bassanga, Bana Ngenge, then Bwambe Bwambe; among his other bands were Afripal and Superflies. In Tanzania he joined Masantula Ngoma and Orch Makassy before returning to Burundi where he founded orchestra Imboneza. He returned to Tanzania to join Lake Tanganyika Club Band, made up of veterans. (The Bassanga are cave-dwelling people in Southern Katanga province, Congo.)

Orchestre Batcha Lokito Band

I found one single from this band on the Bana Moja label, written by Batchalinge, aka, Tabu Frantal. Probably done at the same time as Jojo Ikomo's album with Orchestre Lokito.

Sita 1 & 2 (Batchalinge) Bana Moja BANA 35

courtesy: Discogs.comcourtesy: afro7.net

Orchestre Baya Baya

Their name came from a hit by Bakolo Keta and Orchestre Kiam, as they were an outgrowth of that band. An obituary on digitalcongo.net mentions Jacques Bazizila, who was guitarist of the band under the stage name of Souza Vangu, and who died 18 July 2012 in Brazzaville. After an apprenticeship with African Fiesta, in 1973 (age 23) he joined Verckys' Orchestre Kiam. After Festival Lagos, 1976, the core of the group split to form L'orchestre Baya Baya. They scored an immediate hit with "Sindangari." (In 1980 Bazizila left to found Les Kamikaze with Youlou Mabiala, Serge Kiambukuta and others.) Some of Baya Baya's singles were issued by the Mabele label in Nairobi, and reissued by the African label in Paris. They may have migrated East, and certainly spent time in Kenya and Tanzania, recording in Swahili. There's a shout-out to Mabele in "Ah, Ndugu!" and Editions Mabele hold the publishing rights to their Tanzanian album, further suggesting it was their own imprint. Their album Nakozonga, recorded at state-run Tanzania Film Company in Dar Es Salaam, came out on the Editions Tanzania label in 1977. Their "Kidogo sana," also recorded in Tanzania, is a contribution to the James Brown/Fela-inspired African funk genre.

Orchestre Bella Succès

No info on this band, who may have come from Southern Congo via Zambia. I don't think there's a connection to Vercky's band Bella Bella that was one of the giants of the era, but there may be with Bella Mambo, an offshoot formed by Kanda Bongo Man.

There are six tracks on here, credited to Boma Liwanza, but don't get your hopes up. First of all the whole thing is less than half an hour, and secondly it was recorded, it seems to me, at the wrong speed, so all the tracks sound too fast. Plus the last one sounds like it was recorded on a cheap tape deck off the radio! I doubt that was the band's intention. The whole thing is also overmodulated, to really ruin your enjoyment of this band, but then again I am not sure it IS Boma Liwanza. The best track on here is "Cafe con Leche," the most amazing take off of OK Jazz ever achieved by another band. The guitarist goes off on one of those demonic two-fingered leads between choruses and is egged on by people yelling "Juba," one of whom sounds like Sam Mangwana. According to kentanzavinyl.com, "Café con Leche b/w Nirvana" is a single on the Pathé label (PEA 217) by Mundemba & His Underground, so two of the tracks credited to Boma Liwanza are actually by Mundemba, about whom there is no information on line. The other four tracks are almost certainly by them, having appeared on two 1973 SOMO 45s as A-side and B-side.

Boma Liwanza 45s:
In 1975 Monimambo left to create Special Liwanza (see below), but they continued and in 1976 they cut 8 sides for Pathé

Special Liwanza

Personnel (1975-81):
Jimy Monimambo, vocals
Sammy Kasule*, singer/bass guitarist
Nsilu Wabansilu, bass
Lifenya Lorry, vocals?
Tabu Saidi Ogolla "Frantal," lead guitar
Ali? sax
Jim Masala >
& undoubtedly some of the above band, Boma Liwanza, including Lovy Longomba (vocals)
(*According to KenTunes, Sammy Kasule was born in Uganda. He fled to Kenya and joined Les Noirs. He also played with Vundumuna and recorded two solo albums: Kasule and Muziki. Since 1991 he has lived in Sweden and has a band named Makonde, with whom he sings & plays bass.) Special Liwanza had a single "Kanai" released in Ivory Coast, they also backed Laba Sosseh on a Lassissi release, so it is very likely they made a West coast tour.

Produced by Daudi Kabaka
Sleevenotes (courtesy of Tim Clifford):
Ntshimba Monimambo - better known as "JIMY" was born in 1949, November 15th at Kinshasa Zone Barumbu.

Went to St. Paul School, Barumbu for six years, left in Standard Six and proceeded to College to study mechanics for two years during which he developed a love of music, becoming a musician as a singer. He left the college in 1967 and joined Orchestra TAMPALA in 1968 as a Vocalist. He did only one year in TAMPALA and in 1969 he joined Orchestra LOS ANGEL of Reuben Mawa.

In 1970 he left Los Angel and joined Orchestra VIPER NOIRS. In 1971 he left Viper Noirs to join Orchestra CERCUL JAZZ in Congo Brazzaville. In the same year he left Cercul Jazz after six months to join Orchestra Super Vox in Isiro Province of Zaire then lead by the famous Bijos Bikasi. In 1973 he joined Orchestra Success Mwachana in Kendu Town of Kivu Province. From there is when he joined the Boma Liwanza of Mzee Shango Lola with which he came to East Africa in 1974. As he puts it in his own words, "This is the man who really taught me real music. I mean Mzee Shango Lola. This made me realise that all that I had been doing was just not good enough".

In 1975 he left Boma Liwanza and formed his own Band Orchestra SPECIAL LIWANZA which he leads until today.

This is his first album and he hopes it is going to be worth the whole lot of trouble he took to DO-IT-UP for the sake of his good and faithful FANS.

Liwanza Komecha

Bwambe Bwambe and Super Bwambe

Personnel: George Kalombo Mwanza, sax; John Ngereza, guitar; Chou chou, vocals; Kayembe Nyonga, vocals; Luboya wa Tshiteyai; Matabu Kunyanga. With Thomy Lomboto, bass, and Kabeya Ilombo from Viva Makale. George Kalombo had started in a band called Bakoka (also the name of a town in the heart of the Congo, and a label in Kenya) and then gone East to Northwestern Tanzania, to Mwanza (my conjecture, since he added that to his name), where he formed Orch Bassanga (with Monimambo Jim). His most successful band was Viva Makale. Ngereza was a Tanzanian who left Bwambe Bwambe to form Les Wanyika with Issa Juma in 1978; Bosho (or "Beauchaud") Kayembe Nyonga later led Festival Libaku in Nairobi.
Siama Matuzungidi recalls: "There were a few recordings: some of them I and Lomboto played and the guitarist Jacques (he went back to Zaire in the 80s -- I forget his other name) was still using the name Bwambe Bwambe in recordings. But the actual band was broken up already before we arrived. Later Omari Shabani guitarist and John Ngereza formed Les Wanyika -- this was before we arrived in Nairobi. Then George Kinyonga and Peter Kinyonga formed Simba Wanyika with John Ngereza. I believe all these used to be in Bwambe Bwambe."

Liner notes: Orchestre Super Bwambe was formed in February 1977 by (singer) Kayembe Nyonga and Luboya wa Tshiteyai. Kayembe Nyonga was born on 19 January 1945 in Lubumbashi, Zaire. He has been a member of several bands such as VILE KITE JAZZ, SUPER BELLA and BABA ILUNGA WA ILUNGA. He is pleased to present his new LP which is titled "Mama ya Leki" on CBS Records. Kayembe with his group SUPER BWAMBE BWAMBE signed with CBS Records in January 1980. (Doug Paterson)

Orchestre Fuka Fuka

Kinzunga Rico, founder and guitarist, was a Veve studio musician (as the double-barreled name Fuka Fuka suggests) who had played with Les Kamale and Lipua Lipua and wrote "Niki Bue" which was a hit for Lipua Lipua. Les Kamale also recorded on the Fuka Fuka label so it follows ex-members would choose this name. Fuka-Fuka is a neighborhood of downtown Matadi, a city on the Congo river on the Angolan border. Tshibau Mulembu and Tshimanga Assosa (both also ex-Lipua Lipua) were the vocalists. Tshimanga Assosa had sung with Negro Succès of Bavon Marie Marie, but after Bavon's tragic death had left Kinshasa to look for work in Tanzania with a new group called Maquis du Zaire. In 1980 Assosa moved to Nairobi and joined Orchestre Makassy for the session that included his hit "Mambo Bado," released in UK on Virgin. And, inevitably, after a split, Fuka Fuka reincarnated as Super Fuka Fuka on the Audio Productions label, APL. Richard Kasongo posted a picture of the band on facebook, getting off a plane in Tanzania, and tagged Mick Jagajaga as the drummer. He quotes Jagajaga as saying he started playing drums in Kinshasa age 12 and played with Zabantu, Londa-Londa, Fuka Fuka, Le Kinzunga, Tonto Ricos, as well as alongside Mulembu, Etuma-Nangwaka, Dindo Yogo & Nseka Huit Kilos, Bisengo Madiata ("Madiata le President"), and in G.O. Malebo with Vieux Armando, etc. "In 1978 I left on an East African tour with Fuka Fuka to Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi and Kampala. 1981 returned to Dar-es-Salaam and teamed up again with Orch Makassy to record the Mambo Bado album, which sold in Europe. 1983 moved to Nairobi and joined les Mangelepa. After that joined Vundumuna. Went with them to Asia in 1987 and recorded Nakata Mikili in Japan. Toured the Middle East with Vundumuna. 1989 toured Belgium and Holland with Simba wa Nyika and recorded an album. 1990 returned to Tokyo with Jambo Jambo band. Decided to stay in Japan, and toured Thailand. 2005 joined Le groupe Tanzanites and also played with l'Afrique Band Expresse."

Grand Piza

Band associated with the Bana Moja and Diabim labels, and a popular rival to the Veve groups in Kenya and Uganda. Makengo Roy was leader and songwriter, also associated with Orch Mandalala (as this was one of their hits, perhaps it became the name of a splinter group). Other members were Emmanuel "Aimé Kiwakana" Kiala on vocals, Mbo Mayau and Mongongo Mpia dit Porthos, ex Conga Succes, younger brothers of Johnny Bokelo, as rhythm guitar. Kiala sang with OK Jazz. Mongongo also played with OK Jazz and Bana OK and ended up in Abidjan in the 21st century. In "Linda Toli" there's a shout-out to Johnny Bokelo. On "Keba na zuwa" there are shout-outs to Roy Makongo, Mambiza (?), and also Nyboma and Pepe of Lipua Lipua, as well as Maquis, so perhaps some of the members had been in those bands. Kebam is credited as songwriter and could be another musician. Another member of Mandalala was Chumu Lay Lay who went on to form L'orch. Tout Mopia. In 1975 Mbo made a recording as Grand Piza Ezanga.

(Translated by Google):
Grand Piza is a group that broke out three years ago and has been a huge success since the beginning. It had since are designed as musically very fortunate to be able to inactivity main tetemi records that could be fed whole world. These recordings are "Mother Son," "Mandalala" and also "Bilanga" that have been handing a major victory to orch. Grand Piza. This is a true victory that many bands have a strong desire to win.
It was not a problem for these young people, so said the leader "Makengo Roy". Commission won a great reputation we have but we do not already satisfied since we still come we arrived. His efforts Makengo Roy and his colleague, Mokengo Parthos these young lives have been enlightens the Grand Pizza. However this is the first record of their series Super Hits and has One of their new hits "Keba Nazuwa" hot indeed. So Makengo says "Mambo Bado Mtatuchoka."

Les Jaca

Les Jaca was created by Lovy when he decided to leave Super Mazembe in 1981. He went into the studio with Siama, Tabu Frantal, Mandefu, Roy Mosanda and other friends, but the attempt bore no fruit, so Lovy remained with Super Mazembe. Editions JACA was created to publish Shika Shika and Viva Stars. A. C. Kochomo was the producer and he issued at least 40 singles. Another offshoot was Editions Tobina, who published Bana Ngenge, Jaca and Pepelepe. See kentanzavinyl.45:

Jojo Ikomo

Liner notes: Born in Mbandaka on the 12th March, 1952 in the Republic of Zaire, Jojo Ikomo presents a life heavily involved in the artistic field. In 1970 the star of Jojo Ikomo appears on the musical firmament of Zaire with his first song Sema Sema accompanied by the Orchestre Tabou National, drawing everybody's attention to him. From that moment onwards his career steadily developed and he and his Orchestre Tabou National became one of the best recognised Orchestres in the country.
In 1973 he joins Orchestre VeVe of Kiamuangana Mateta with whom he enjoyed a lot of success, particularly with songs like Maina and Kaniuka.
In 1975 Jojo Ikomo leaves VeVe to form his own Orchestre -- Bana Moja with his cousin Djama.
He left Zaire and travelled towards the East of Africa and played for some time in Uganda. Finally he reached Kenya, meanwhile with Orchestre Bana Ngenge. During this time he created some of his top sellers like Kayumba, Kombe Kombe etc. which secured him a large followership.
His singular talents to touch the deepest sentiments of the people, to make them laugh and cry and to reach their hearts through his expressive voice are at its best in this present recording which is Jojo Ikomo's first LP and which will satisfy all his followers, and gain many more. [courtesy: Zim Bida]

Note: Personnel on this album, recorded in Nairobi (in 1977?) post-Bana Ngenge, but before Jojo's return to Zaire and the reformation of Bana Moja, must include Tabu Frantal, lead guitar, Coco Zigo, Ochudis & Jojo Ikomo on vocals. Willy is Willy Tambwe Lokassa on bass guitar. Shout out to "Samba" might be Samba Mapangala, vocalist.

IKOMO DJO DJO
IN ROME 1982 (ASLP 963 licensed from Kina Rama)

A1. Amour Go
A2. Londia
B1. Mayatu
B2. unknown track

(unknown personnel)

For more Jojo Ikomo, see also Bana Moja, Bana Ngenge. For more from this band see Batcha Lokito.

Orchestre Kiam

Part of Verckys' stable of bands and musicians who were hugely popular in Kenya (as they were in Nigeria). While I can identify more than one set of musicians and they may have toured East, I can only find issues on the Nairobi version of Eds Veve and no other evidence they actually were resident in East Africa. The East African Veve could have been a pick-up band, as their bassist Daid Wabansilu came from Kampala. For a discography, see here.

SAMBA MAPANGALA
Photo: copyright David Gaar, Madison WI 2007

Les Kinois

Samba Mapangala, born Matadi, Congo, moved to Kinshasa in the early 1970s. After secondary school he sang with Super Tukina who recorded his first hit, "Satonge," then he joined Super Bella Bella alongside Jean Bosco and Mongo Ley. In 1975 he went on tour to Eastern Zaire with Saka Saka band. On January 1, 1976, he moved to Kampala, Uganda, and formed Les Kinois (The Kinshasans) with friends. They relocated to Nairobi in January 1977 and scored hits with "Sunday" and "Malako." The played frequently at Garden Square, Alliance Club, Uhuru Park & the Starlight Club. They were among the most popular of the expatriate bands of the time, alongside Les Mangelepa, Baba National, Boma Liwanza, Bwambe Bwambe and Shika Shika. When asked about the popularity of Congolese music in Nairobi, Mapangala replied, "Music has no borders. Everyone enjoys the rhythm." But, pressed about the economic hardship of making a living as a musician, he replied, "I had a very good life and great career in Kenya, but music piracy was making it impossible to make money." Les Kinois broke up in 1980, when Mapangala formed Orchestre Virunga. For more see Doug Paterson's Samba Mapangala page.

L'orchestre Kombe Kombe

Later incarnation of Shama Shama de Mopero. Mopero had toured from Gabon to Kenya with L'orchestre Shama Shama, whose members included Nanga Nella and Mambo Ley. Mopero returned to Congo and joined Victoria Eleison. Kombe Kombe was founded in Uganda by Coco Zigo & Siama (guitar), who decided to stay behind. Siama Matuzungidi recalls: "Me, Thomy Lomboto, Coco Zigo Mike, Chery Matumona, Jollet and TeTe Le Beau (two more members of orchestre Shama Shama, I forget their real names) left Uganda due to Idi Amin war; we came to Nairobi as Kombe Kombe Band in 1979." They were also known as Kombe Kombe "Buskas" on their first release. Since DjoDjo Ikomo was in the band and the name seems to have come from a song by Bana Ngenge, it's likely the band was a blend of Bana Moja/Bana Ngenge, as well as Mopero's musicians. Most were drafted into Viva Makale by George Kalombo.

Lovy Longomba

"When I left school I joined L'Orchestre Macchi of Kinshasa. This is where I learnt music. I participated in composing records like LOLA, MAYUNA and SOLE which I personally composed.
Before long Dindo Yogo and myself split and formed L'Orchestre Etumba na Ngwaka together with Huit-Kilo. In August 1978 I left Kinshasa for Nairobi to join Les Kinois. I stayed with Les Kinois for three months and later joined L'Orchestre Boma Liwanza, where I stayed for nine months.
In May 1979 I left Boma Liwanza and joined Super Mazembe. While at Mazembe I composed ATIA-JO, KAYEMBE, LONGWA, OUMA, MADO ZAINA, LOBOKO, YO MABE, NDEKO, BIWELE CHRISTMAS, LOVY, ELENA, NANGA, MOKANO GINA and MBANDA YA MOBANGE. Nearly all my compositions at Mazembe were hits.
I left Mazembe in May 1981 and formed my own "Super Lovy." My first record which is almost in every shop EELE is already a hit. The second one is MOKILI.
I now bring you this album called LOVY."

The songs he lists at Mazembe are mostly praise songs for band members and some of them have writing credits to other band members, so maybe he just recalls singing them. Here there are shout-outs to Dialu Kila, Lava Machine on drums and guitarist "Pierrot," who may be Petit Pierre a.k.a. Twikala wa Twikale of Les Mangelepa. Whoever it is, he is smoking hot on this album.

Liner notes: Produced by Felix Jacomo (G.A.)
LOVY MOKOLO LONGOMBA
Since the early days with Super Mazembe, LOVY has always been a fantastic and prolific composer -- remember "Lovy," "Yo mabe," "Ndeko," "Nanga," Mokano" and "Elena."
The Lovy voice too is something special and has an unmistakeable sound that just cannot be copied by any other Lingala artist, no matter how hard they may try. This has given LOVY a special fan club, and for those fans, here are more of the HOT AND HIGH SOUNDS OF LOVY.

Orchestra Makassy

Orchestra Makassy was formed in Uganda by Mzee Makassy and a number of Ugandan and Zairian musicians. In 1975 they were left Uganda for Tanzania and took up residency at the New Africa Hotel in Dar-es-Salaam. In Dar Es Salaam during the 1970s the most popular bands were formed by Zairean musicians who sang originally in Lingala, and later modified the music to fit the inflexion of the Kiswahili language. Orginally perfoming as a solo artiste at the New Africa Hotel, Mose Se Fan Fan went on to join Orchestre Makassy, with whom the first four tracks were recorded. The song "Chama Cha Mapinduzi," in praise of the Tanzanian independence party, had lyrics based on the words of the country's first president, Julius Nyrere.

The next four songs on the first session were issued as singles in East Africa and collected on the Greatest Hits LP. Most of these were updated in the studio and re-recorded for the Agwaya sessions done in Nairobi. The combination of their musicianship and the minimalistic production of Norman Mighell, who recorded them in 1982, produced what many regard one of the finest moments of East African rumba. (--Matt Temple)

Peter toll adds: As for Orch. Makassy, they were not based in Kenya but in Tanzania. When Makassy left for Nairobi to record "Agwaya" (1982), the band was already falling apart. Remmy Ongala stayed behind in Tanzania where he joined Super Matimila while Fan Fan Mosese quit Makassy in Kenya to start another Somo Somo band. The Makassy that produced AGWAYA had really only been playing together for three years or so.

Mose Se "Fan Fan" rose to stardom as lead guitarist with Franco & OK Jazz before heading East for a solo career. He also played with Lovy du Zaire, Orchestre Mi, Orchestre Makassy (in the late 70s), Orchestre Matimila and Maquis, as well as his own band Somo Somo. Other versions of "Ciska," "Molema," "Venus," and "Chama cha mapinduzi," recorded in Dar Es Salaam 1979, can be heard on BELLE EPOQUE (RetroAfric RETRO 7CD). After the death of Franco he formed Bana OK.

Orchestra Malembe, Super Malembe & Malembe Stars

This group was formed by Kabakaba Bibiley, after orchestres Popolipo, Les Kinois and Virunga. Bibiley was the guitarist for Samba Mapangala's bands and later played for Lovy's Orch Super Lovy and Moreno's Moja One. Bibiley was later associated with Bana Motindo in Nairobi in 2000. (Info from Muttu Mondiya Mama, posted online July 15, 1998) There was also an Editions Malembe-Malembe label in Kenya. Tim Clifford suggests the name Super Malembe may be an attempt to imitate Super Mazembe. According to a 2002 guide book to Kenya Orch Malembe Stars were a cover band playing in the Ngong Hills Hotel in Nairobi.

About the Band:
The group came into existence one fine morning--it was 1.7.76, to be exact. But the decision to adopt the now famous name (Mangelepa) was taken on 22.3.76, though the idea to form the group dates back to 1974. By then, as most people already know, the boys were musicians in Orchestre Baba National, led by Baba Gaston. Unfortunately limited space makes it impossible to give a full account of the problems they had to face while working for Baba Gaston; anyway, the boys, led by Bwami Walumona, decided that they had taken enough, and so on the morning of 1.7.76 it came to pass that the world of entertainment witnessed the birth of a new child and it was baptized Mangelepa....They are a knock out group and they have just begun ... the riot continues! Get up and boogie! Get up and RIOT!!!

{thanks to Zim Bida}

"Mangelepa" was the title of a song by Baba Gaston's band, but also, according to Dona Mobeti, the name of a dance created him him and his orchestre Cavacha.

Liner Notes: Orchestra Les Mangelepa has just completed an African tour with a terrific success. Words can't explain the explosive moods of these shows. Hurry up and listen to these sounds, they are heavy and disco like.

Orchestre Mokano

The first appearance of "Mokano" as a song title I have found is one by Lofongo Ea Bengolo & Etumba na Nguaka (Eds Cavacha Wondele, 1977, with Huit Kilos, Bibiley and Lokassa on guitars and Dindo Yogo on vocals), though about the same time Lovy recorded a different song with the same title in Nairobi. The group L'Orchestre Mokano comprised Congolese musicians recording in Nairobi around 1980. In true form the band was named after a hit by one of the members. "Mokano" was a hit song for Lovy before 1980, but was rerecorded by him with Super Mazembe later. L'Orchestre Mokano recorded on the Hit Parade label, which was dedicated to Orchestre Shika Shika for its first 30 issues, but then allowed other bands into their catalogue. There are also singles on Eds Bakoka and a Kenyan label called BIEM (for this confusing name for a label see Tim Clifford's website). Personnel include Lovy (vocal), Dago Mayombe (vocal), Sammy Mansita (guitar), Siama Matuzungidi (guitar), Kizunga Rico (guitar), and presumably others who were around Lovy at the time. Interestingly they have electric piano on "Sala Zuwa."

Orchestra Les Monama

Band led by Jimmy Monimambo in one of his many incarnations. There was also a label, Editions Monama, produced by Felix Jakomo Jr that issued "Maya" by Mtsimba Monimambo as its first release in 1978. (See below)

Reissue of Sister Pili plus 2 from Sterns 2012, compiled by Doug Paterson. (My review of it appears on the Kenya part two page.) The two additional tracks, 'Rehema-Piri' (POPE16) & 'Teresia' (POPE17), were singles recorded a couple of years before "Sister Pili" with a group called Bana Nzadi, seemingly incorporating members of Bana Ekanga, along with Tabu Ngongo (later of Mangelepa & then Vundumuna) on sax, and Sammy Kasule (of Special Liwanza and Les Kinois) on bass. Along with Siama on rhythm guitar and Madjo Maduley on harmony vocals.

Orchestra Mos Mos

Band led by Moises Fonta who is now in London. With Nana Akuma as the female singer and Lovy Longomba & Monimambo also on vocals, Siama and Chery on guitars and Lava Machine on drums. I hear the following names in shout-outs: Shabani (drummer), Manitcho (bass), Manaka, Delvida, Jackino & Bokilo (singers), "Elvis" aka Lawison Somana on sax. Possibly with Apollo on guitar, since that is one of their hits. Guitarist Mokili Sesti gets a shout out. Since Tabu Frantal is the composer of "Walter Jaramogi" it is likely he is on lead guitar also. A different "Mokili" was also a hit for Lovy & Super Lovy.

Mama ya Mwana (Editions Sapato, Kenya EDI-6)
This last single was a test pressing (& could be attributed to Shika Shika as it is unlabelled). Siama recalls, "Mama ya muana: Yes Lovy was praising Mado Zaina and also Safi Mati, who was Jimy Monimambo's wife. They were all best friend living in the same place but different apartments at that time. It could be CBS because some recordings of CBS never came out; I remember doing 4 songs for Monimambo with CBS. I can hear the voice of Monimambo, Fataki too, Nsilu waba Nsilu bass, Shabani drums, I don't know what Elvis -- Lawi Somana -- was playing, could be sax or guitar, he was a good guitarist too." Seemingly reissued as "Mboka Mosika" by Shika Shika on Eds Jaca ELJ 051.

Nguashi Ntimbo

Nguashi N'Timbo made his debut in Lubumbashi in the Baba Gaston Band and sang with them for many years. Arriving in Kinshasa he started Orchestre Sentima and sang alongside Sam Mangwana, notably on "Tangua." By 1977 he was releasing songs in Nairobi with his Orchestre Festival du Zaire, which also featured Kadima, Zele Kabamba and Starzo ya Estha. In 1979 he joined OK Jazz for three years and may have toured to West Africa with them.
It has long been a puzzle as to whether Nguashi Ntimbo belongs in this page. The fact that Festival added "du Zaire" to their name does suggest an ex-pat band. In a series of albums called "Franco présente..." the great man issued tracks by artists associated with his band that were not necessarily recorded with OK Jazz. As noted by Jerome Ogola, in the song "Ossette muana Congo," Nguashi shouts out to Fataki Lokassa, who was in Nairobi, but also says, in Swahili, "Hii rekodi inapatikana Polygram Nairobi" which means "This record is found in Polygram Nairobi." This does seem to suggest that it was recorded at Polygram in Nairobi, and although the album is often credited to Nguashi with OK Jazz, in another song on it, "Pneu ya reserve," he calls out to the band members as Orchestre Sentima. So, for now, I will include Nguashi and Festival du Zaire, Top Forum and Sentima, and leave out the OK Jazz recordings (1979-81). However Orch Sentima's "Citoyen" was recorded in Kinshasa in 1982, and other solo work was apparently recorded in Belgium or the Congo. According to Tim Clifford's website, Ntimbo licensed singles to Melodica in Nairobi under the Eds Ntimbo label. (The checklist of Eds Ntimbo below comes from Peter Toll.) Some, if not all, were recorded in Kinshasa. So for the purposes of this page we will allow a little leeway and remember my mantra, "Some came to play; some came to stay."

Mr Chuza Kabaselleh Masters, founder leader, and owner of Orchestre Les Noirs City Five, was born in Kasai, Zaire and brought up in Uganda and Kenya.
Chuza has had a long spell in the colonial army during the last world war, posted on service to various countries abroad. It was during this period in India that he started an Army Entertainment Band Unit with George Zaake, Daniel Gatuku, Charles Renkatuka, Fundi and many others.
After the war Chuza led an ex-Servicemen's band performing so popularly all over East Africa: the very popular A.B.S. Band. So popular was this group that even the Colonial Government allowed them to entertain the Mau Mau internees all over the country.
The colonial government ensured the break-up of this group towards the end of the emergency but Chuza very much determined and popular throughout East Africa continued forming band after band. His popularity earned him success in 1970 when the Uganda government trusted him with his band to perform at the various Hotels in Uganda.
In 1972 his recording career started in Kenya. For his success he thanks all his musicians and fans, and hopes this LP will be a must in every household.

While it is classic Congolese rhumba, sung in Lingala, the album opens in English with a salute to Kenyan fans and a "Viva Mobutu" and "Viva Kenyatta." This would make them one of the first Congolese bands to hit Kenya, probably in the mid-70s.

CD:
Best of Orchestre Les NOIRS (Tamasha CDTAM900)
*See my review on the Congo part 3 page for something of an explanation of the total hash Tamasha made with this album. As you can guess from the crudely rescaled cover it was taken from a cassette. Lots of bass rumble on here. The track names are all wrong. Here's my corrected track list:

Pepelepe

Founded by Pepe Mato, who had started with Baba Gaston, and featuring the lovely voice of Nana Akumu wa Kudu (also of Bana Ekanga). In "Mobali ya tembe" there are shout-outs to Bijou, "Shaba Kahamba" (nickname for the bassist), Samy, Edifundu, Kasule Mopepe, "Mwalimu" (i.e. Siama Matuzungidi) & others. In "Bilanda Landa" there is a shout out to (Fataki) Lokassa, as well as to "Lembe Lembe." Johny Ekombo, drums, and Dago Mayombe, singer, were also members of Shika Shika.

Orchestra Pole Pole

Another Moni Mambo outfit.

45:Pezu 1 & 2 (Moni Mambo) Umoja Mwana Shambe UMS1
(due to the similar design of the label, I suspect the Umoja label is an offshoot of Editions Mwana Mama; two other singles on the label were by his group Shika Shika). Also not to be confused with the Pole Pole label which released recordings of Issa Juma & Super Wanyika. "Pole pole" means slowly slowly.

Orchestre Popolipo

Founded by Tabu Frantal & Lessa Lassan (ex-African Fiesta), from Congo, based in Nairobi in the 1970s. With Lava Machine on drums and Chery Matumona on guitar and Zainabu and Bibiley Kabakaba on accompaniment. Lessa Lassan known as "Sauti ya Simba" sang with Dr Nico's African Fiesta, alongside Josky Kiambukuta. His hits with Nico were "Kiri Kiri-Mabina ya Sika (Kiri kiri the new dance)," "Echantillion ya Pamba," "Asala Malekoum," "Pauline," and "Limbisa Ngai." He moved to Nairobi in the 1970s and founded Popolipo, which mainly sang in Lingala. "Lassan was among the Congolese musicians who left their country to journey eastwards in search of greener pastures. He first came to Kenya alongside former TPOK Jazz solo guitarist Michelino Mavatiku Visi in the late 1970s, when they did songs like 'Masamba' with the Makfe International Band." They starred at the Cantina Club near Wilson Airport, off Langata Road, through the 1980s, and then at the Motherland Club on Ngong Road. According to an obituary in the Daily Nation (Nairobi) his other popular songs include "Sababu Yako," "Tobias Oduor," "Ujanja wa mwanamke," "Mwana wa Mberi" and "Zuria" (in praise of his daughter). Two tracks, "Cherie Mbambi" and "Saadi Malingaka" reissued in 2016, mistakenly attributed to Baba Ilunga wa Ilunga (who is name-checked in one of them, but only in a shout-out as a pioneer).

Recorded at Audio Productions Studio, Nairobi.
All songs composed by Jimmy Moni Mambo; Produced by Babu Shah [-- via DP]
Note: Like HPLP-001 a neat selection of three singles with one other unreleased track.

"Loneliness is the worst thing to come in life. It is the lost smile of the elderly, the disappointment of a loser and at the same time the cry of a child. This album has been specially designed and arranged to comfort the lonely ones.
It is sincerely hoped that you would enjoy every minute of this album and would make you feel that it's a grand world to live in for ever." -- Babu Shah

SISILI (Melodica cassette MLD 220)
I have heard two versions of this cassette version of HPLP-002: each is appalling in a different way. The CD-rom version cuts every track off at 4'29 and has a very loud hum; the cassette issue sounds like it was recorded with dolby and loudness on then re-recorded with more loudness and more dolby. In short it's a bloody mess.

Siama Matuzungidi recalls Nderitu Munene, who was working for Babu the Indian producer. He was the one who decided if the song was good enough for Babu to produce, so he was really in charge of everything, as the "hitmaker." Also the studio engineer was Fundi Konde, an old Kenyan singer/songwriter who had hits in the 1940s and 1950s. He was first to play electric guitar in East Africa and had numerous hits including the original recording of "Malaika" with Fadhili Williams on vocal. (See RETROAFRIC CD8).

Super Kaumba

Tim Clifford discovered this band, as he says on KenTanza Vinyl:
"Orch Super Kaumba, meanwhile, were a Congolese band who also recorded for Editions AIT. Like many Congolese bands of the time, the group travelled widely and on a tour of Uganda recruited Sammy Kasule. He cites Super Kaumba and Orch Les Noirs as the first two bands he joined before travelling to Nairobi and making a reputation for himself under his own name. Now resident in Sweden, Kasule is still as of March 2011 an active musician playing bass and singing with Makonde."
As distinct from other bands who went East, Super Kaumba sang in Lingala and Luo.

Super Mazembe

Formed out of Super Vox, a Congolese band started by Mutonkole Didos Longwa in 1967, some of whom moved to Nairobi in 1974. VOICE OF AMERICA published an obituary of Atia Jo (born Mulunguke Mwanza) on 2 January 2007: "Super Mazembe was comprised of the band leader Didos Mutonkole Longwa, Bukalos Bukassa (lead guitarist), Rapok Kayembe (rythmist), Atia Jo (bass guitarist), Katele Aley (lead composer and vocalist), Dodo Doris (drums), Kassongo Songoley (rythmist) and Charles Kagamba (vocalist)." Formed in Lubumbashi, the band moved to Zambia where Nashil Pitchen, producer of the Nairobi Eagles Band heard them and invited them to Kenya. In Nairobi their ranks were strengthened by other Congolese musicians, including Kassongo Wa Kanema, Lovy Longomba, Fataki Lokassa, Rondo Kandolo, Charles Atei, Lobe Namapako, and Loboko Pasi. "Loboko Passi was employed by Mazembe because he was the only one who knew to play guitar like orchestra Kiam...." said a Voice of Kenya broadcaster. But the band went into decline in 1986 when a businessman took their instruments away. Atia joined Virunga and later Tchakatumba. In the early 90s surviving members regrouped, but Katele died soon after leaving only Atia and Kanema.

Jerome Ogola notes: "According to Loboko Pasi, after Orchestre Basanga split up in Tanzania he came to Mombasa to join Les Noirs in 1975. He was invited to Nairobi to join Boma Liwanza and then joined Super Mazembe where he was rhythm guitarist until 1989. When Bukalos died he told Longwa to hire another rhythm guitar because he could play lead. He now performs with Ambro Musica of Mombasa."

Trevor Herman, in his liner notes to the GIANTS OF EAST AFRICA CD singles out guitarist Bukasa wa Bukasa, who died in 1989, and also mentions bandmates Loboko Bua Mangala (guitar), Mwanza wa Mwanza Mulunguluke (bass), Kitenge Ngoi Wa Kitombole (drums) & Musa Olokwiso Mangala. A lot of the songs on this compilation are stories about individual band members. Their biggest hits were "Kasongo," "Shauri Yako," and "Samba."

Doug Paterson mentions that only their Kaivaska LP (for Virgin) was conceived as an album, all the other six LPs released in Kenya were after-the-fact compilations of 45s.

Formed by Samba Mapangala in Nairobi in 1981 after the breakup of Les Kinois. They are named after the dormant volcano in the Ruwenzori range of Eastern Congo, the third highest peak in Africa. According to Doug Paterson, in the liner notes to African Classics, Samba was on the verge of going back to Kinshasa to start a new band when he teamed up with some ex-Bana Ngenge musicians in Nairobi to make a record and it turned out to be the smash hit "Malako." Four songs from their golden age can be heard on VIRUNGA ROOTS VOLUME 1, including "Africa Dance," "Ntumba," "L'Argent" and "Losako" (VS001 CD), and a must listen is African Classics on the Sheer Sounds label (SLCD149). See also Les Kinois

Note: First three tracks included on Virunga Volcano CD (see next entry); "Sister Ali" included on African Classics CD.

VIRUNGA VOLCANO (English compilation, produced by Trevor Herman, released on Earthworks in 1984 as MALAKO, then on CD CDEWV16 in 1990). The breakthrough album that launched Virunga to international stardom.

Orch. Viva Makale (Alimasi)

Saxophonist & vocalist George Kalombo's outfit (after the collapse of Orch Bassanga), featuring Coco Zigo on vocals, Thomy Lomboto, bass, Mokili Sesti, guitar, Kabeya Ilombo, among others. Unusually they also included an electric organ. Moreno and Monimambo also sang with them before starting Shika Shika. Siama Matuzungidi recalls: "In 1979 Bwambe Bwambe was kind of gone, that's why Kasuku Armstrong of Garden Square asked George Kalombo and Buami Walumona to start Viva Makale and he would give us a contract at Garden Square with Les Mangelepa. Kasuku hired us Kombe Kombe musicians to join Viva Makale. Then we had George Kalombo, Buami Walumona, Leyla on trumpet, Tshiamusoke, also on trumpet, the singers were Kalombo Muanza (also on sax), Coco Zigo, Tambwe Mandola, and Jimmy Monimambo for a short time; lead guitar Chery Matumona, rhythm Siama Matuzungidi, Kabeya and Thomy Lomboto on bass guitar. Thomy Lomboto now lives in Bangui, Central African Republic. I don't know where George Kalombo is since 1983 when he left Nairobi and went to Zambia. Later I heard that he went back to Congo after divorcing his wife."

Viva Stars

A later version of Viva Makale, with Coco Zigo on vocals and Thomy Lomboto, bassist who also played with Moja One. Bibiley was rhythm guitarist. Mokili Sesti played lead guitar. Perhaps also connected to Les Jaca. (Coco Zigo died in Nairobi in August 1998.)

Vundumuna

Vundumuna was formed by guitarist Tabu Frantal in 1984. He had started in Kisingani with Orch. Succès le Peuple, then came East with Boma Liwanza and joined Shika Shika then Virunga, before starting Vundumuna with his partner Daid Wabansilu Manysho, the bassist. Ugandan Sammy Kasule (from Special Liwanza) and Lava Machine were also members. They also teamed up with Lessa Lassan, who had sung with African Fiesta, at one point.